Homily: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend we will hear the Gospel of two women, who represent the entire spectrum of society, from impoverished to privileged, who are healed through faith.  Jesus says, “It was faith that saved you.” 

 

So what does it look like?  What does it feel like? How do we show it? For the faith that this Gospel points to is not likely to be what you may think.

 

So what is it?  Check it out. 

 

For the podcast of the homily, click here

 

For the text of the homily, click here

 

For the readings of this Sunday, click here

 

 

Homily: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This past Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that it is legal for all Americans, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, to marry the people they love. The controversial decision is a historic victory for the LGBT Community who have fought for years in the lower courts. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia already recognize marriage equality. The remaining 13 states ban these unions, even as public support has reached record levels nationwide.

This Sunday we hear a story a well-to-do synagogue official, Jairus, who begs Jesus to spare the life of his daughter.  And sandwiched in that story is another story of a poor, outcast woman who has been hemorrhaging for years and who seeks to be healed.  Both show incredible levels of faith….both shed some light on how we as Christians should respond to this recent Court decision.

You may be surprised at the answer.  Check it out.

Click here to the podcast of the homily

Click here for the text of the homily

Click here for the readings of this Sunday

Homily: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Unlike most parables, this time the Gospel writer leads off telling us what the story is all about.  By having us assume the role of the widow and God the role of the judge we are told of the need to be persistent with our prayer to God.  So safe to say, the vast majority of churchgoers this weekend are hearing a homily about the need to pray always. And while prayer is important to us, that is not the homily you will be hearing today.

Because there is more.  And to see what is hidden under the surface of this parable, it requires you to turn the story upside down. Only then will you find the second meaning that may just have you rethinking your life.

Click here for the Sunday readings

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Click here for the text

Homily: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday I was looking forward to heading back to my alma mater, the University of Scranton, to preach at their Sunday liturgies.  But it seems Hurricane Sandy has changed those plans.  The silver lining in all that?  I get to be with my parish family of St. Paul’s for the weekend!

This Sunday we hear of the healing of Bartimaeus, the blind man who had the faith to call out to Jesus from the side of the road. But dig a bit deeper and we discover that this story carries a deeper more significant message.  But to break that open one has to look back at this past month and tie all the gospels together.  For this tenth chapter of Mark has been all about those who can see and are blind….and those who are blind, but can see.

Sounds strange?  Do you see?  Are you blind?

Click here for the readings

Click here for the homily

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

More than 300 Christian Churches and ecclesial communities around the world are observing a week of prayer for Christian unity ending on January 25th. This annual celebration dating back to 1908 invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray in communion with the prayer of Jesus “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).

This past weekend I attended the marriage of a Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic at the former's Church. Even though the marriage was Orthodox I had prepared the couple over the past year for their wedding. Once I arrived the Orthodox priest and I spent the first few minutes having to apologize for our respective faiths in our inability for us to co-celebrate the wedding. Same God. Same Christ. Two religions still trying to work out how to be one.

This weekend I find myself in New Mexico attending a conference led by Richard Rohr and Bill Plotkin: Nature and the Human Soul. Over a thousand people, from all different faiths taking time to pray over the connection of soul to the gift of nature God has given us.

Sounds too new age? It is far from it. Actually it provides the space for all those here, while appreciating and giving thanks to our own faith traditions, to do a reality check to see if we are focusing our time and energies on "church-ianity" or Christianity. We often forget that Christ did not come to start a new religion, rather he came to teach us a new way to live and to love. What faith tradition you want to wrap around that gift from God...is really up to you.

We pray, this week, that one day we may all be one.